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NEWS - Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Gaming world will miss Earnhardt

EA Sports has posted a tribute page for the famed Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr. who was killed in a tragic crash at the Daytona 500 this past weekend. The page contains details of the publisher’s past dealings with Earnhardt and gives information on how to donate to the Earnhardt’s charity, the Carolina Foundation.

Earnhardts death not only affected the racing world but also the gaming world as well. Many publishers with Nascar-related products are trying there best to avoid some potentially awkward consequences for product licensees.

EA Sports’ product manager, David Lee, said that the publisher will get in touch with Earnhardt’s family and company to "discuss what we will do in our games in the future." Lee also said that, following the deaths of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin, Jr. last year, their families requested that the drivers be left in the games "so that players would have a chance to remember them as they raced."

"We have been in contact with members of the NASCAR community to express our condolences," Lee said, "and at this time this is all were focusing on." He added that EA Sports has received requests from fans to keep Earnhardt in its Nascar 2002 game, as well as thanks for the tribute page.

Infogrames, has plans to release some Nascar titles for PSX and PS 2 this summer, and is still trying to figure out how it will deal with Earnhardt’s death. A spokesperson noted that, after last year’s deaths, specific "challenges" dealing with those drivers were removed from the game, and the games were dedicated to them. The spokesperson said that any Earnhardt-specific challenges would most likely come out of the game, too, though it’s too early to know for sure.
Source: http://www.gameweek.com/